IDIOTS IN IVALICE: A "ROLL TO DODGE" RP

Music: "Remnants", FFT

Gathering their supplies and renting a decently fit Chocobo named Ace, the team sets off alongside Ser Arte, meeting at the northern gate of Camoa and trekking forth alongside his avian steed toward Baptiste Hill. Unlike his training regimen from earlier that day, Arte is now packing a nimble lance instead of a sword, his preferred weapon style and his best on the back of his mount, Geralt. The spear is on the shorter side, more of javelin make really, but long enough to be used skillfully on his Chocobo.

Because of the four setting out in relatively full gallop for most of the trip and aren't carrying a wagon, the hasty run toward the Jagd only takes a few hours as opposed to a day or so. Night has just begun to fall by the time the flowing greenery turns to razed badlands. While relatively warm in all of Jylland, the heat has turned dry and the breeze has indeed ceased upon entering the cursed lands. An unnatural haze seems to fill the sky above the Baptiste Jagd, turning the late sunset into a cloudy purple sky. This is, of course, ignoring the tangible Mist in the form of a light fog.

And that sensation... that unnerving, paranormal sensation in the air. It feels electric in the air, almost as if you're standing too close to a Thunder spell going off but not close enough to get even a minor static zap. You should know, after all -- you trained with an up-and-coming Black Mage in your Clan who'd just gotten her hands on a fresh-resin Thunder Rod this week, and have likely endured the electrical risks of her figuring out the Thundara spell without needing the wand.

That same electric feeling permeates the air, with reddish heat lightning cracking across the blighted skies every now and again. A sense of dread fills your sortie as your Chocobos trot about the region quietly, trying to find any hint of where Janna might be poking around. About twenty minutes of snooping about, and you find a likely location. A slope in the burned hills gives way to a mausoleum of baked clay bricks, braziers burning outside to hint at its recent occupation.

Unfortunately, the disturbed resting place seems guarded by its late denizens. Whether turned into a mockery of life by the Jagd's otherworldly forces or called into being rotting sentinels by other means, you're not certain. But as it stands, four Zombies are seen guarding the Mausoleum, and are closely packed around its only clear entrance.

"They don't ssseem to noticcce usss", mutters Ser Arte as he pulls close to Ace and his fellows riding him. "Tacticsss were never my sssstrong sssuit; I am a follower, not a leader. Any plan of attack, if I may?"

~~~

As before, let me know how each of you approach; the battle will officially begin directly afterward. If anyone has advice for Ser Arte to act, feel free to present it. The disgraced knight will act according to how I feel he'd react if given multiple suggestions.

By now, the lingering Mist of the Jagd is starting to have an effect on the team. Of the PCs, Vivian and Niviea are most likely to sustain ill effect due to their more animal natures, with the Clover Girl being a bit more susceptible. Rolling with any mishaps on this mission may or may not incur the team being overwhelmed by the mystical miasma.

On the flip side, the Mist's thick presence can also be tapped into as fuel for expended magicks. If you've used up your Ability during this mission, you can try your luck to activate it again by purposely willing the Mist into your being. As this is "Roll to Dodge", however, expect the Mist to take its toll on a mishap if you test your resolve and fail...

Listening in on the team's dialogue, Ser Arte's scaly hand rests on his jaw. Giving a firm nod once the trio come to an agreement on tactics the cavalier replies, "Absssolutely. I might not be a tacticccian, but I am no ssslouch with my lanccce. But be careful leading the zzzombiesss away, lady Vivian; I don't think a rental Chocobo isss trained to handle the ssstresss of combat like Geralt here isss".

Turning his head to the undead down below, the rotting Humes still faffing about the entrance, he adds a bit of wisdom about the avian steeds. "Thankfully", he adds, "Yellow Chocobosss like him and mine know a ussseful ability -- the ssso-called 'Choco Cure'. It ssshould act like a basssic Cure ssspell, but only to mend woundsss. Ssstill, Accce might rout if he becomesss too ssspooked".

Arte now points his impromptu lance toward the dip leading to the mausoleum. "I'll take point in dissstracting them. I would not sssee a fine lady like you be put in danger, even if you can clearly hold your own. We've ssstill got whoever'sss in that crypt to deal with after thisss violent exorcccisssm-to-be".

Steeling himself for the danger ahead, Ser Arte sighs, turning to the others. "A sssolider can't think of dying when the fight isss ahead. But if sssomething goesss awry... massster Anno, ladiesss Niviea and Vivian, it'sss been good to know ye".

Crossing a clenched fist over his surcoat and mail beneath, Ser Arte hisses something fierce and, giving Geralt the Chocobo a firm pat on the side, prepares to send the raptor into full gallop down the slope. If all else is prepared, the battle will officially begin on my next post.

As Arte mentioned, both Geralt and Ace have access to a single 'Choco Cure' usage, which will restore 2 HP to a unit that they flap their wings upon. For sake of ease, Arte and Geralt will be counted as one Guest/NPC, and Vivian can issue commands on Avee's posts for Ace to act directly after her actions.

Due to making it down the slope on quicker-than-human speeds and because of the zombies' sluggish natures, deciding to let Vivian and Arte make the first moves in the opening round upon their Chocobos.

Ally Rolls -- Anno: 5, Vivian: 5, Niviea: 1, Arte: 1
Enemy Rolls -- Zombie Hume A: 4, Zombie Hume B: 5, Zombie Viera: 6, Zombie Moogle: 1
~~~
FIGHT!
Taking their opening plays to surprise the enemy, Vivian and Arte's Chocobos take point and charge down the slope toward the undead. But unfortunately, Geralt's talons hit a patch of rather dry ground that crumbles, sending the bird spilling over and Arte flying down the slope off its back! Rolling with the initial impact, the knight tumbles and isn't fazed as bad as he thought from the landing... but is right in front of the zombies, and without his steed to perform the guerrilla tactics of a mounted lancer.

Even with Geralt starting to pick himself back up, Vivian realizes that Arte is in serious trouble. Taking aim at the first zombie to stagger close enough to the newly-appeared victim, she's able to surprise attack the rotting fiend. Even if seemingly unfazed by the bolt hitting the departed Hume in the throat, the oozing formaldehyde from its gullet and the sheer impact close to its vulnerable head meant the monster had surely taken a grievous wound. (2 dmg: Zombie Hume A)

Barely flinching from the heavy strike to its neck, the first of the zombies lurches toward the downed Arte as he's trying to pick himself back up. Pouncing upon the Bangaa and swiping both grisly hands upon him, Arte is barely able to scamper backward to avoid getting tackled. The overgrown, dirty nails rake harmlessly into the linen surcoat and don't penetrate the iron rings underneath, but the impact knocks the wind out of the sir. Worse yet, the zombie has a solid hold on Arte's legs, and isn't about to let the scaly morsel go... Arte is prone to be automatically attacked by Zombie A until freed from its grasp, or until the zombie is slain. (1 dmg: Arte)

Able to find a vantage point to slip around the ensuing danger, Anno hesitates until Niviea is able to climb, staying out of reach from the preoccupied zombies. The petite, plated Moogle is able to climb the adobe bricks of the mausoleum with remarkable ease, thanks to the hand and foot holds of worn-away mortar being bigger for the smaller individual. Up top, there are plenty of loose bricks and shingles to hurl down upon the undead, and a stable enough spot on the roof is found to avoid crashing into the crypt.

Sensing fresh meat, the second zombie hobbles its way toward Arte, managing to take advantage of its ilk's hold and extending a nasty bite into the Bangaa's unprotected forearm. Arte howls in pain as nasty teeth are chomped into his flesh. (1 dmg: Arte)

Zombie C advances as well, egged on by the scent of fresh spilled blood as well as her allies' feast. The rotting Viera staggers forth, managing to successfully tackle the unwitting Arte in an ungraceful drop... but, with his last bits of strength, Arte manages to reach for his dropped lance and plunges the spearhead deep into the fallen rabbit-girl's side. Sadly for him, he's now a prime choice to get devoured by the remaining undead, if none can intervene quick enough... (1 dmg: Zombie Viera; 1 dmg and KO: Arte)

Niviea's cat-like prowess gets her up the wall as quick as Anno could, only to witness the horror of Arte getting overwhelmed. In desperation she grabs a brick Anno's been prying loose and hurls it at the Hume zombie grabbing onto his ankles, braining the brain-eater and sending it tumbling to the ground. It does not lurch back up. (2 dmg and KO: Zombie Hume A)

Perhaps smart enough in life to leave some dregs of intellect in undeath, the remaining zombie -- an undead Moogle -- hops and bops as best as rigor mortis would allow toward Vivian and Ace. Spooked by the janky movement of the rotting Moogle, its careless movements leave Ace enough time to bring up a two-toed talon into the zombie's face, punting the fiend and sending it tumbling away. (1 dmg: Zombie Moogle)

Watching in horror as Arte is overwhelmed, Vivian decides to try and keep the monsters off of the knight first. Despite the surprising pace the dead Moogle had to get toward her, the l'il bastard was now out of reach to harm the Viera or her mount, too. With a pull of the trigger Vivian is able to shoot a bolt into the biting Hume corpse as it pulls back for another lunging chomp, causing it to stagger as the shot punches into the back of its calcified skull. Though not enough to slay it outright, the damage to its vital grey matter is enough to leave the monster fazed for a few, perhaps giving the others time to rescue the victimized Arte. (1 dmg and Stunned: Zombie Hume B)

Round One Results
Anno: 4 HP, Ability Ready
Vivian and Ace: 4 HP, Ability Ready for Both
Niviea: 4 HP, Ability Ready
Arte (Guest): KO'd
Geralt (Guest): 3 HP, Ability Ready

Zombie Hume A: KO'd
Zombie Hume B: 3 HP, Stun: 1 rd
Zombie Viera: 4 HP
Zombie Moogle: 3 HP

(Just one normally, but you can attempt it more than once in this particular mission. Otherwise you'd have to use a potion, etc)